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 Some 73 percent of voters likely to head to the polls in
November's election say they think the United States is on the wrong
track, and these disaffected people make up a majority of the
support bases for both Republican candidate Trump and Democratic
hopeful Sanders - 87 percent and 54 percent, respectively, according
to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Both candidates were seen as long shots against brand name rivals
like Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton a few months ago, but have seen
their popularity surge as the election race starts in earnest with
the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1. They are likely to do well in Iowa, but
even if they lose, the fervor they've whipped up has upended the
race and maybe even American politics.
So who are the angry Americans? They deviate from the population in
key ways: they are whiter, poorer and less educated. They are less
likely to support a candidate who has been involved in politics. And
regardless of party, they have deep distrust for Clinton after her
more than two decades in the public eye.
Where the camps differ is in identifying the root of America's ills,
with supporters of Sanders pointing to income inequality and health
care as the top problems, and those backing Trump putting the blame
on immigrants and foreign terrorists, according to the poll.
 Pundits have been quick to define the economy as the source of the
voter anger feeding the Trump and Sanders campaigns. In a
post-recession world, the middle class still struggles with stagnant
wages and a weak job market. But a close look at the polls, and
interviews with prospective voters, show concerns go well beyond
economic indicators.
Here in Iowa, the December jobs report issued Tuesday found just 3.4
percent unemployment – far below the national average and still on
the decline. "Now Hiring" signs are ubiquitous across the state.
Asked to select the top issue for the next president in the first
100 days of the new administration, 24 percent of voters nationwide
who said the country was on the wrong track picked immigration -
making it the most popular choice by that group.
Only 10 percent of those who think the nation is on the right track
selected immigration, making it the fifth most popular choice for
that group, according to the poll.
"Wrong track" voters were also more likely to say terrorism and the
economy were concerns. ANGRY AND LOVING IT
Trump has built his campaign on an immigration platform that
includes building a wall and deporting millions of undocumented
immigrants. And his insistence that he could negotiate better trade
deals provides a strong appeal to those concerned about disappearing
jobs in a global economy.
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On Tuesday night in Iowa City, Trump's rally drew both supporters
and opponents. Eight times the event was interrupted by protesters,
who were forced out of the packed gymnasium and heckled by the
raucous crowd.
Jim Schmidt, 48, of Johnson County, Iowa, was among the angry. His
11-year-old son wore a button proclaiming "Bomb the shit out of
ISIS. The child watched as protesters were ejected from the event,
cheering and waving his hand in support.
"I’m angry but I love it and enjoy it,” Schmidt said afterward. He's
backing Trump for his business experience and ability to bring about
change.
Where Trump's angry voters have been on display at rallies, the
intensity around Sanders has manifested itself online - dominating
message boards and comment sections. A liberal radio host in Oregon,
Carl Wolfson, announced last month he was ending his show in part
because of the vitriol coming from Sanders supporters. His Facebook
post on the topic was then inundated with angry responses.
Sanders is resonating among angry voters by focusing on income
inequality, and promising to deliver universal health care and free
college education.
Meghan Metier, 22, of Iowa City said the Affordable Care Act -
President Barack Obama's signature healthcare reform - has allowed
some of her friends to access Medicaid. But to keep it, she added,
they have to be certain their income doesn't exceed the poverty
level, so they stay barely employed.
For her the system is broken and Sanders is the only candidate who
appears ready to fix it. "He's a more reliable progressive,” she
said, comparing him to Clinton.
(Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Mary Milliken)
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